Firing mechanism for firearms



ug. 12, 1947. C, H, BARNES FIRING MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed `June 15, 1944 5mm LQ." fill" Augl2, 1947- c. H. BARNES' 2,425,412

FIRING MEcHANIjsM FOR FIREARMS Filed June'l, 1944 5 Sheets-Shet 2 AG NT" C. H. BARNES FIRING MECHANISM FQR FIREARMS Filed June 13, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v //7v l y M30/251g:- l236 I /38 /7 gwg/ LTS /40 SMIWJZ v INVENTOR.

BY Gnarles H. Barnes A GENT Patented ug. 1:2, 194? FIRING MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Charles H. Barnes, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to Remington Arms Company, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application June 13, 1944, Serial No. 540,015

Claims'.

The present invention relates to firing mechaanism for rearms, and, in particular, to an improved autoloading rifle for .22 caliber short and long rifle cartridges.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved firearm which is relatively inexpensive and one which may be readily assembled and dismounted without the use of tools or other special equipment. A further object is to provide an automatic rifle having a receiver constructed from sheet metal. A still further object is to provide an autoloading rifle having an improved fire control mechanism and feed means for selectively feeding cartridges from a magazine into the chamber of the barrel.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be described in more detail in the specification which for the purposes of illustration discloses an autoloading rifle for .22 caliber cartridges. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown but is applicable to firearms of other calibers and includes all modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation partly in section of the autoloading rie of this invention including the tubular magazine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the sheet metal cover and trigger plate wh'ich comprise the receiver.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View of the rear end of the trigger plate showing its laminated structure and including the sear lug insert and butt stock stud.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the receiver on line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View of the receiver including the breech bolt, the cartridge carrier, the ring pin and the breech end of the barrel in the horizontal plane of line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an elevation in section of the receiver on line 6 6 of Fig. 4 showing the action open, and including the re control mechanism and the carrier latch arm. The trigger is shown in its rearmost or red position.

Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 6 but with the action closed and not including the carrier latch arm. The full line position of the trigger is its firing position, the dotted line position being its fired position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line 8 8 of Fig. 6, showing the carrier latch in its locked and unlocked positions.

Fig. 9 is a plan View of the fragmentary sectional View of Fig. 8 in the horizontal plane of line 9 9 sh'owing the camming action of the breech bolt in unlocking the carrier latch.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the section line 5 5 of Fig. 4 showing the position ofthe extractor when the action is closed.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the cartridge carrier including the cartridge stop and carrier latch, the trunnions of the carrier being shown mounted in the slots in fragmentary portions of the sides of the trigger plate.

Fig. 12 is a front end elevation of the carrier of Fig. 11 showing the resilient jaws.

Fig. 13 is an exploded view in perspective of the iire control mechanism including the trigger safety lock. f

Fig. 14 is a section in elevation on line {4 14 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 15 is an end elevation of the receiver in the direction of the arrows l5 |5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an autoloading rifle comprising, in general, a butt stock 2U, fore-stock 2i, receiver 22 and barrel 23, cartridges being automatically fed into the chamber of the barrel from a tubular magazine indicated by the dotted lines 24 which is mounted in the butt stock and supplied with bullets through a suitable aperture therein. Th'e magazine including the cartridge follower and the bayonet fastening means for securing the magazine in the stock are of well known construction and are illustrated in greater detail in the patent to Browning, No. 1,038,384, January 6, 1914.

The receiver of the firearm comprises a trigger plate 25 and a cover 26, as shown in Figs. 2 and 14. Both the trigger plate and cover are constructed from sheet metal. The trigger plate is trough-shaped in cross section having substantially vertical sides 2l struck up from a substantially flat sheet of metal. The upper edge 2l' of each side 21 comprises a guide rail for slidingly supporting a breech bolt hereinafter described and is provided with a U-shaped slot 28 for pivotally supporting the trunnions of a cartridge carrier as described below. Y

The rear end of the trigger plateA comprises a laminated wall 29 formed by folding a rearwardly extending portion 29 of each side wall 2l in overlapping relationship, see Fig. 3, and weldingthe overlapped portions together. The rear wall also embodies a third substantially rectangular;l plate 30 welded to the front face of the overlapped portions 29 and provided at its upper end with a pair of forwardly extending Vspaced substantially parallel bracket members 32. The latter may be formed separately and fastened to the plate 30 or, as shown in the drawings, may be formed integrally therewith by making a transverse cut 30 in opposite edges of the plate 30 and bending the cut portions inwardly and forwardly. The brackets 32 are provided with transverse axially aligned apertures 33 for pivotally supporting a sear as hereinafter described.

The laminated rear wall 29 is provided with two vertically superposed apertures 34 and 35, see Figs. 2, 6 and 7, the upper aperture 34 being adapted to receive a butt stock stud 36 and the lower aperture 35 being adapted to receive and support the magazine tube 24. The butt stock. stud 36 comprises a substantially cylindricaly sleeve having a reduced portion 36 at its forward end provided with a counterbore 31. The stud 36 is fxedly secured in the laminated rear wall of the trigger plate by seating the reduced end 36' of the stud in the aperture 34 and swaging over the edges of the counterbore 31. The magazine tube 24 extends through the aperture 35 in the rear wall 29 and is securely held in proper position therein by means of a self-locating bushing 38 which is mounted on the magazine 24 and has an arcuate flange portion 39 adapted to partially embrace the underside of the stud 36. A screw` 40 is provided for securing the bushing 38 to the rear wall of the receiver.

At the rear end of each side plate 21 and adjacent the lower edge thereof is a transverse projection 40 which may be circular in cross section or substantially rectangular, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and provided with tapered forward edges. The projections 40 are adapted to lock the cover to the trigger plate as hereinafter described.

The bottom 42 of the trigger plate is substantially rectangular and provided with a relatively wide rectangular aperture 43 adjacent its rear end forv accommodating a trigger. A somewhat narrower slot 44 extends forwardly from the front edge of the trigger slot 43 and constitutes a guide slot for the trigger lock or safety. A second relatively wide and substantially rectangular aperture 45', see Fig. 4, is formed in the forward yend of the bottom of the trigger plate, a portion of the metal forming the slot being struck up to provide a substantially vertical web 46 at the rearv endpof the aperture 45. The web 46 is provided with an arcuate upper edge 46' adapted to support the` forward end of the tubular magazine 24, see Figs. 2, Sand '1, and has an aperture 41 adjacentits base for securing the hooked end 48. of vthe trigger guard 48 thereto. The rear end of the trigger guard is shown secured by a screw 49 to arearwardly extending tang 59.0n the bottom of the trigger plate. A second aperture 41v is provided in the web 46 immediately above the aperture 41 for receiving the trigger spring hereinafter described.

The forward end of the trigger plate 25 is provided with a barre1 lug insert 52 which comprises a relatively solid substantially rectangular block of metal having a smooth barrel receiving aperture 53; and a stem portion 54 extending downwardly at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the aperture 53; the stem being provided with a reduced counterbored portion 55. The latter is adapted to seat in an aperture 56in the forward end of the trigger plate bottom and to be fastened therein by swaging. Referring to Fig, 15, the lower end of the stem portion 54 of the lug lis somewhat narrower than the .upperend of the lug thereby formingshoulders 51 which are adapted to it over the upper edges 21 of the sides of the trigger plate. The joints between the shoulders 51 and the upper edges of the sides 21 are welded or soldered for securely fastening the lug inthe forward end of the trigger plate. A substantially horizontal ledge 58 is formed integrally on the back of the lug 52 while the front of the lug comprises a bevelled or downwardly sloping surface 59. The stem portion 54 is apertured as at 69 and tapped for securing a barrel fastening bolt 6l therein.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 1, the breech end of the barrel 23 is reduced to provide a smooth wrist portion 62 `which is adapted to make a nice fit in the aperture 53 of the lug 52. A recess 63 having tapered walls '64 is formed in the underside of the wrist portion 62 of the barrel and is adapted to lie substantially opposite the aperture 60 of the lug when the barrel has been assembled therein. The barrel fastening bolt 6| is provided with a frusto conical end 55 which is adapted to project into the recess 63 initially to engage the rear tapered walls 64 thereof. By turning the bolt up, a camming action is set up between the mutually engaging surfaces of the bolt and barrel recess to draw the wrist portion of the barrel rearwardly intothe lug until the barrel shoulder 62 brings up tightly against the front face of the lug.` It will be noted that when the barrel is secured in the barrel lug 52, the rear end of the fore-stock 2l is brought adjacent the front face of the lug. To increase the rigidity of the joint between the barrel and receiver, the rear end oft he fore-stock 2| may b-e provided with a tongue portion 65 adapted to eng-age the front face of the lug. The upper surface of the tongue may be bevelled as at A61 so as to engage the bevelled surface 59 of the lugwhile the bottom edge 68 of the tongue 66 may be adapted to overlie the front edge of the bottom 42 of the trigger plate.

The trigger plate cover 26 is a trough-shaped member formed from sheet metal and comprises spaced substantially parallel side walls 69 and a top wall 1B'. The latter is provided with a tapered prole at its rear end to form a smooth unbroken curve With the pistol grip of the butt stock and a bevelled front edge. Welded or otherwise fastened to the underside of the to-p wall 19 adjacent the forward end thereof is a receiver insert 12 comprising a substantially rectangular metal plate curved transversely to lit the contour of the top wall and having substantially square shoulders 13 and 14 at its opposite ends respectively. When the cover 26 is assembled on the trigger plate 25, the forward shoulder 14 is adapted to abut the rear wall of the barrel lug insert `52. The rear shoulder 13 0f the lug constitutes a firing pin stop for thepurpose hereinafter described.

Referring to Figs. 2, 6 and7, the cover .26 is assembled on they trigger plate by slipping the side walls 69 :of the cover down over the side walls '2i of the trigger plate. Suitable means are provided for lockingV the cover to the trigger plate and comprise longitudinal rectangular recesses formed on the inside walls of the sides 69 of the cover and intersecting the rear edges thereof. By pushing the cover downwardly and rearwardly over theztrigger plate, the recesses 15 are adapted to engage the substantially rectangular projections 40 on corresponding sides of the trigger plate and to veffectively lock the rear end of the cover thereto. The forward end of the cover is fastened to the trigger plate by means of a transverseV pin 16 .which is adapted to pass through axially aligned apertures in the sides of the cover and in the barrel lug insert. In assembling the barrel 23 to the receiver, the receiver pin 16 is first inserted in its apertures so as to fasten the cover to the trigger plate and then the barrel locking screw 6| is secured in the tapped hole of the barrel lug insert for securing the barrel therein. The shank of the screw 6| is adapted, as shown, to engage in a circumferential groove intermediate the ends of the pin 1.6 to lock the latter in the receiver. As shown in Fig. 1, the right side of the receiver cover 26 is provided with a cartridge ejecting aperture 11 which is located adjacent the top of the receiver and extends longitudinally thereof.

The butt stock 2|! is secured to the receiver 22 by means of a bolt 13 which is supported in the stock bolt stud 36 and threadedly secured at its rear end in the tapped hole of a bushing 19 which in turn is threadedly secured in a recess in the stock. The forward end of the stock is reduced to provide a tongue portion 82 and shoulder 83. The latter is adapted to abut the rear ends of the cover and trigger plate which, as shown, extend rearwardly of the rear wall 29 of the receiver to form a seat or recess in which the tongue portion 82 of the stock makes a snug t.

Mounted in the receiver is a breech block 8d comprising a substantially rectangular block of metal adapted to be slidably supported on the upper edges 21' of the trigger plate, see Fig. 4. The bottom 85 of the breech block is provided with a substantially rectangular slot 86 to provide clearance for the upper end of the magazine and the cartridge carrier as hereinafter described, the longitudinal axis of the slot being coincident with the longitudinal axis of the breech block. The slot extends from the front end of the breech block to a point to within a short distance from the rear end thereof. A relatively narrow clearance groove `81 is formed in the rear end of the groove `86, the longitudinal axis of the clearance groove 81 being coincident with that of the first groove and adapted to provide clearance for a cartridge stop member as described below. A relatively short narrow slot 08 is shown at the rear end of the breech block adjacent the right-hand edge thereof, see Figs. 8 and 9. The rear end of the right-hand wall of the slot S8 is bevelled as at 89 to provide a cam surface for actuating a cartridge carrier latch.` At shown in Fig. 4, the top of the breech block is provided with a substantially rectangular guide groove 90 which extends throughout the length of the breech block, as shown in Fig. 6. When the breech block is mounted in the receiver, the receiver insert 12 is adapted to project into the guide groove 90. It will be noted that both the receiver insert and breech block groove are slightly to the right of the longitudinal center line of the receiver.

Extending through the breech block from its rear end forwardly to a point adjacent the front end thereof is a firing pin aperture 92, the longitudinal axis of which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the groove 90. The rear end of the firing pin aperture opens into the groove 90 of the breech block and provides a substantially rectangular aperture 93 having a square shoulder 94. The forward end of the aperture 92 terminates short of the front face of the breech block in an aperture 92 which is of reduced diameter and adapted to receive the firing pin needle |03. A second aperture 95 is formed at the right-hand side of the breech block, its longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to that of the aperture 92. The aperture is adapted to receive an action spring, indicated at 96 in Fig. 5 and terminates at its forward endin a semicircular groove 91 and shoulder 98, as shown in Fig. 10. A relatively narrow transverse slotl 99, see Fig. 4, is formed in the side of the breech: block adjacent the front end thereof for receiving an extractor. The slot 99 opens at its rear' end into the forward end of the aperture 95. Depending from the forward end of the I'breech block is a lug or thumb piece |00 which in the present embodiment is a U-shaped member struck up from sheet metal stock and welded or otherwise secured to the bottom of the breech block. The lower end of the thumb piece is contoured as at |02 and provided with knurling to facilitate manual displacement of the breech block rearwardly in the receiver.

A firing pin |03 is slidably mounted in the aperture 92 of the breech block and comprises a substantially cylindrical member having a ring pin needle |03 at its forward end. Adjacent the rear end of the firing pin is a lug |04 substantially rectangular in cross section and adapted to project upwardly through the opening 93 in the Ibreech block. The front face of the lug |04 comprises a substantially vertical shoulder |05 adapted as hereinafter described to abut the shoulder 13 of the receiver insert and the shoulder 94 of the breech block opening 93. A suitable notch |06 is provided on the rear end of the firing pin to be engaged by a sear member. The firing pin is apertured longitudinally to receive a coil imain spring |01, see Fig. 7, having a pilot |08 at its rear end provided with a recessed head 09. The action spring 96 is mounted in the aperture 95 of the breech bolt and is provided at its: forward end with a recessed button |090 andi at its rear end with a substantially cylindrical, pilot H0. The latter is reduced at its rear end to provide a nipple |0| adapted to be received in an aperture H02 in the rear wall of the receiver, as shown in Fig. 5. Rearward movement of pilot is prevented by engagement of the shoulders of the nipple with the edges of the aperture H02'. 'Iherecess of the button |090 is adapted to receive the nub of an extractor ||2, see Figs. 5 and 10, which is freely supported in the transverse slot 99 of the breech bolt and comprises a hook I3 at its rear end adapted to engage behind the shoulder 9B of the semicircular groove 91 and to fulcrum in the semicircular groove 91. A suitable hook l|l| is provided on the forward end of the extractor to engage the rim of a cartridge in the usual manner.

A cartridge carrier is indicated generally at l I5, see Figs. 11 and 12, and comprises two spaced substantially parallel sheet metal side members I6 joined together at their rear ends by a bridge H6', each side member having a suitable trunnion ||1 and ||1 respectively secured thereto by a screw I8 adjacent its rear end and projecting laterally therefrom. The trunnions adapted to be rotatably mounted in the corresponding slots 28 in the sides 21 of the trigger plate to pivotally support the carrier therein, the outer ends of the trunnions being substantially flush with the outer faces of the respective sides 21. The trunnion ||1 is adapted also, together with suitable rivets, to securely fasten the forward end of a carrier latch arm ||9 to the carrier. The carrier latch arm comprises a thin spring steel member having a latch block |20 fastened at its rear end adjacent the upper edge thereof. The outside of the latch block is provided with a..

are

substantially square) shoulder |22, see Fig'. 8, adapted normally to be held in engagement with thev upper edge 21 of the adjacent wall 21 of the trigger plate by the inherent resiliency of the arm H9 to lock the carrier against pivotal movement. The forward end of the block is provided withy a bevelled or cam surface |23, see Figs. 9Y

and 11, which is adapted to be engaged by the cam surface 88 of the breech block when the latter reaches its rearmost position in the receiver to cam the shoulder |22 of the latch block |20 oi of the edge 21' of the trigger plate thereby to unlatch the pivoted carrier i5.

Supported between the sides of the carrier is a cartridge stop |23 comprising a convex sheet metal member pivotally mounted on the inner ends of the screws ||8 of the trunnions ||1 and ||1 by means of its rearwardly extending arms |24. The cartridge stop is provided at its forward end with a block |25 which may be secured by welding in a slot on the longitudinal axis of the stop member or may be an integral part of the stop member. The upper edge of the block |25 provides an upwardly projecting rib portion |26 while its lower edge constitutes a bevelled cartridge engaging shoulder |21, see Figs.y

6 and 7, adapted to extend into a slot |28 in the upper end of the tubular magazine 24. The rib portion |26 is adapted to be engaged by the top of the slot S8 of the breech block when the action is open and to be po-sitively held down thereby so that the bevelled shoulder |21 will be held against the rim of a cartridge in the upper end of the magazine. When the breech block is in its forward position, see Fig. 7, the rib portion |26 of the block |25 is opposite the slot 81 in the rear end of the breech block, and hence is free to move upwardly therein. The force of the magazine spring, not Shown, is thus enabled to push a cartridge past the bevelled shoulder |21 of the pivoted stop |23 into the cartridge carrier ||5.

The forward end of the cartridge carrier is provided with resilient fingers |29 and |30 for rmly grasping the cartridge as it is fed from the magazine.

Referring to Figs. 1i. and 12, the fingers are extensions of the sides of the carrier and are arranged in spaced parallel substantiallyy vertical planes, each finger having an outwardly flared portion |32 and |33 respectively on its upper edge which effectively closes up any space between the sides of the trigger plate and the fingers. This precaution is taken to prevent an extracted case from fallingdo'wn into the trigger plate and becoming jammed therein. Both fingers are also provided with longitudinal ribs |34r and |35 respectively on the inner upper edges thereof to form a slight restriction in the space between the fingers so that a cartridge therein will not inadvertently slip or jump out of the fingers.

The ngers are held in spaced parallel relationship by means of a spacer comprising a plate,

indicated generally at |35, which is L-shaped in,

cross section, one leg |31 of the plate being fastened by rivets or welded joints to the inside of the finger |29 adjacent the lower edge thereof. The other leg |38 of the spacer plate lies in a substantially horizontal plane between the two fingers and serves to support a cartridge thereinr and to keep the finger at a predetermined distance from the finger |29.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the rear end of the ,spacer plate |38 has an extension |38 which is 8 bent downwardly at substantially right angles vto form a stop for the carrier spring hereinafter described.

Due to the inherent resiliency of the sides of the carrier, they may be sprung apart slightly to enable a cartridge to enter between the fingers onto the supporting plate |38. To prevent inadvertent separation of the fingers and to augment the inherent resiliency thereof, a coil spring |39 is provided which is mounted on the shank of a screw |40. The shank of the screw passes lfreely through a hole in a bracket |42 formed integrally at the front end of the linger |30. The spring |39 is confined between the head of the screw |40 and the bracket |42, the threaded end of the screw |40 being secured in axially aligned tapped holes in the leg |31 and the downwardly extended end of the finger |29. As shown in Fig. 6, the rear edges of the resilient fingers slope downwardly and constitute cam surfaces |43 and |44 respectively adapted to be engaged by the forward end of the breech block. The carrier is `urged at all times to pivot counterclockwiseV so as to carry the resilient ngers up into the path of the breech block by means of a spring |45, the forward end of which engages the stop |38 of the spacer plate |38. The spring |45 is a combination trigger spring, cartridge carrier spring and safety spring as more particularly described below. When the breech bolt approaches its chamber closing position, it engages the cams |43 and |44 of the carrier and pivots the carrier downwardly out of the path of the breech bolt. Simultaneously, the breech bolt engages and pushes a cartridge out of the ngers of the carrier into the chamber of the barrel. In the foremost position of the breech bolt in the receiver, the forward edges of the resilient fingers |29 and |30 of the carrier engage the rearwardly extending ledge 58 of the barrel insert lug which holds the resilient fingers rmly substantially opposite the end of the tubular magazine 24 to enable a cartridge to be fed therefrom into the fingers, see Fig. 7. When the breech block moves rearwardly, the carrier is unlatched in the manner described above, and hence is pivoted counterclockwise by the spring |45. By the time the breech block is in its rearmost position in the receiver, the carrier has risen to its uppermost position in the receiver, which position is attained by displacement of the sides of the carrier I5 up into the groove in the bottom of the breech block. In its uppermost position, the resilient ngers of the cartridge support the cartridge in substantially axial alignment with the barrel chamber, as shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 13, the re control mechanism embodies a sear, indicated generally at |46, comprising a relatively wide hook |41 having a bifurcated wall portion |48 at its rear end extending downwardly at substantially right angles thereto. Formed integrally on the bifurcated rear wall |48 are spaced parallel ilanges |49 shaped subf stantially like the inverted truncated right angle triangle and somewhat thinner than the bifurcatio-ns of the rear wall |48 so as to form substantially square shoulders |50 therewith. Two pairs of axially aligned holes |52 and |53 are formed transversely in the upper and lower portions respectively of the ilanges |49.

The flanges :are adapted to make a nice rlt between the aforementioned bracket members 32 of the rear wall of the receiver and to be pivotally connected therein by means of a pin |54 which is adapted to pass through the axially aligned apertures |52 #and 33 of the flanges and brackets respectively. The forward end of the sear hook |41 has a slightly bevelled surface |41 which is adapted to engage a corresponding bevelled surface |06' cn the rear end of the firing pin and to be cammed counterclockwise thereby out of the path of the firing pin. The sear hook |41 is thus elevated above the notch |06 of the firing pin as the latter moves to its rearmost position in the receiver. When the firing pin moves forwardly, the sear hook |41 is pivoted downwardly or clockwise by the force of the compressed main spring as hereinafter described to engage in the notch |06 of the firing pin. After release of the firing pin, the sear pivots downwardly, its clockwise movement being stopped by engagement of the shoulder-s |50 of the sear with the forward edges of the brackets 32.

Supported by means of a pin |55 in the holes |53 of the sear is a Sear disconnector, indicated generally at |56, comprising a link portion |51 having an aperture |51 to receive the pin |55 for pivotally mounting the link between the spaced webs |49 of the sear. A substantially vertical finger |510 projects forwardly from the upper end of the link |51 between the bifurcated rear wall portion |48 of the sear and is adapted to take into the recessed head |09 of the spring pilot |08. The disconnector link is provided at its lower end with an arm |58 which is bent at substantially right angles to the plane of the link. The arm is in turn provided with a reach |53' bent at substantially right angles to the arm |53 so as to lie in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the link |51. The reach |58 is provided at its outer or forward end with an enlargement |59 having a cam surface |59 adapted to be held up in the path of the breech bolt by the force of the main spring |01 acting through the pivoted link |51 and to be displaced downwardly by engagement with the bottom of the breech block when the latter moves rearwardly for the purpose hereinafter described.

Rearwardly of the enlargement |59 and extending downwardly from the bottom edge of the reach is a shoe |60 having a toe |62 and a heel portion |63. The latter has a substantially square end having a relatively oblique smooth nat surface |63 spaced from the bottom edge of the reach |53' by a notch |630. The upper edge |62 of the toe |62 is substantially parallel to the reach |58 and spaced from the underside of the enlargement |59 by a space |64.

Referring to Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 8. the foot |60 and, in particular, the ltoe portion |62 of the disconnector are adapted to be held against'the lefthand wall of the trigger plate in sliding engagement therewith by means of a combination guide and disconnector stop. The latter comprises a button |65 having a shank |66 suitably secured in a hole in the left-hand side of the trigger plate. The shank |66 i-s located in the notch |64 of the disconnector and is adapted to be engaged by the upper edge |62 of the toe |62 to limit the upward movement of the disconnector about its pivot pin |55. The button |65 overlies the inside face of the toe |62 so as to guide the forward end of the disconnector. The disconnector is displaced downwardly as' described above by engagement of the breech block with the cam surface 59 of the disconnector. The disconnector is also adapted to be displaced, and, in this instance, substantially longitudinally by the action of the trigger as hereinafter described.

The trigger is indicated generally at |61 and comprises a substantially rectangular flat bridge 61 having a vertical flange |68 fat its right-hand edge, see Fig. 13, and a longer vertical flange |69 at its left-hand edge, each flange being provided with a transverse hole |10 both of which are in axial alignment.

The left-hand flange |69 is provided at its upper edge with a linger |12 having a substantially flat smooth relatively oblique surface |12' adapted to engage the corresponding oblique surface |63' of the disconnector |56. Extending forwardly from the front edge of the bridge |61' of the trigger and at substantially centrally thereof are a pair of spaced parallel fingers |13, each having a transverse hole |14 both of which are in :axial alignment. The trigger |61 is pivotally mounted in the trigger plate by means of a pin |15 which passes through the apertures |10 of the fingers |68 and |69 and is supported at its opposite ends in suitable apertures in the walls of the trigger plate. The linger engaging portion of the trigger extends through the slot 43 in the bottom of the trigger plate. When the cover of the receiver is assembled on the trigger pla-te, its sides o-verlie the ends of the trigger pivot pin |15 to lock the pin in place. The holes |14 of the fingers |13 are adapted to receive a pin |16 which passes through the eye |11 of the aforementioned carrier, trigger and safety spring |45. The pin |16 is adapted to secure the eye of the spring |45 between the fingers |13 of the trigger. The spring |45 is a substantially flat spring steel member having a V-shaped fulcrum |45' adjacent its rear end and a reach which extends forwardly through the aperture 41 of the web 46 and is adapted -to engage the stop |38' of the carrier.

The spring fulcrum |45 is adapted to rest on the upper surface of the trigger locking means or safety indicated generally at |82. The latter comprises a slightly concave substantially rectangular member guided between the sides of the trigger plate on the bottom thereof and between the trigger and the substantially vertical magazine supporting web 46. The safety is held in its off position by means of a protuberance |83 which, in the off position of the safety, is in front of the fulcrum |45' of the spring |45. The safety is provided with a rearwardly extending tang |84 which is bent downwardly at its rear end so as to extend into the relatively narrow guide slot 44 in the bottom of the trigger plate. The lower end of the tang is provided with a finger grip |85. By pulling the grip rearwardly to its on position, suitable shoulders |82' at the rear edge of the safety member |82 are moved beneath the bottom edges of the fingers |13 of the trigger so as to effectively lock the trigger. As the safety slides rearwardly, its protuberance |83 forces the fulcrum |45' of the spring upwardly and over to the opposite side of the protuberance. The safety is thus effectively held in its on position by the resilient force of the spring.

The Operation of the action 0f the firearm may be described briefly as follows: Assuming a cartridge has just been fired, the action is closed, and the breech block 84 and ring pin |03 are in their forward positions in the receiver as shown by the full lines -in Fig. '1. The needle |03' of the ring pin has advanced suiciently in the breech block to form an indenture in the rim 0f the fired cartridge. It will be noted, however, that the firing pin |06 has'not reached its foremost position in the breech block 04 but has been stopped short of this position by engagement of the shoulder |05Y of the ring pin lug |04 with the shoulder 1.3 of the receiver insert' 12. Assuming the trigger |61 has been released bythe shooters finger, the trigger nger |12 has been pivoted rearwardly from the dotted line position which corresponds to its firing position to its full line position by the force of the combination carrier, trigger and safety spring |45 acting on the pin |16. Moreover, the force of the main spring |01 acting on the nnger |510 ofthe disconnector link |51 has pivoted the sear hook |41 downwardly in which position its shoulders |50 engage the front edges of the bracket 32 as hereinabove described. The disconnector |51 has simultaneously participated in substantially longitudinal movement rearwardly due to the force of the main spring 501 such that the enlargement |59 of its reach has moved rearwardly slightly and cleared the rear end of the breech block. The oblique surface |63 of its heel |63 thus maintains its engagement with the corresponding rearwardly moving oblique surface |12' of the trigger finger |12. The cartridge carrier l5 has been pivoted downwardly by the previous advance of the breech block so that its resilient fingers |29 andV 430 are opposite the open end of the magazine 24 from which a cartridge A has been released and fed into the fingers. The next succeeding cartridge B in the magazine 24 is held between the cartridge A and the next succeeding Vcartridge or magazine spring pilot and is momentarily free of the shoulder |21 since the ribA I2@ ofthe stop |23 is opposite the clearance slot 81 in the bottom of the breech bolt, and hence'is free to pivot upwardly. Ihe force of the magazine spring acting on the spring pilot or the next succeeding cartridge will suiiice to pivot the stop upwardly, and to disengage its shoulder |21 from the rim of the cartridge, However, as soon as the breech bolt begins to move rearwardly, it will be evident that the stop |23 will be forced downwardly, its shoulder |21 being engaged positively against the rim of the cartridge B in the end of the magazine. The carrier H5 is positively held in this downward position by engagement of the latch block |20, see Fig. 6,V with the upper edge 21 of the trigger plate. The hook ||4 of the cartridge extractor H2, see Fig. l0, is engaged in the usual manner with the rim of the fired cartridge, the extractor hook being resiliently urged into engagement with the rim of the cartridge by the force of the action spring 9e acting against the nub of the extractor.

Following the firing of the cartridge, the residual pressure of the gases forces the breech block. 84 rearwardly in the receiver, the fired case being withdrawn from the chamber by the extractor ||2 and held firmly thereby on the front face of the breech bolt. The initial rearward movement of the breech bolt is accomplished without a corresponding movement of the firing pin since the shoulder |05 of the ring pin is spaced rearwardly a predetermined distance from the shoulder 94 of the breech bolt Iby the instrumentality of the receiver insert lug1'2.

As a consequence of the relative movement of the breech block and firing pin |03, the protrusion of the needle |03 of the ring pin from the face of the breech bolt is increased. The needle |03 is, as shown in Fig. 4, on the side of the breech bolt substantially opposite the extractor and due to the force of the compressed main or ring pin spring |01 acting on the needle |03', the fired case is subjected to a force tending to pivot it laterally. Hence, as soon as the breech bolt has moved rearwardly sufficient for the open end Of the fired case to clear the chamber end of the barrel, the fired case will be freed and flipped sharply out of the ejection port 11 on the side of the receiver. This action may be augmented by a slight pivotal movement of the extractor about its fulcrum ||3 in the semicircular groove 9S in the main spring aperture 95.

Moreover, as soon as the breech bolt starts back, its rear end engages the cam surface |59' of the sear disconnector |55 pushing it downwardly. The disconnector heel |63 is thereby disengaged from the trigger linger |12, the latter then being opposite the notch |630 whereby the trigger is disconnected from the sear. When the breech block approaches the rear end of the receiver, its cam surface 09 engages and cams the latch block |20 off of the upper edge 21 of the trigger plate, thereby releasing the carrier ||5 which is immediately pivoted upwardly by the force of its spring |45 carrying the cartridge A in its resilient fingers into substantially axial alignment with the chamber of the barrel, as shown in Fig. 6. The breech block is finally brought to a stop against the rear Wall of the receiver. The scar` hook |41 has been urged upwardly against the restraining force of the main spring |01 by engagement with the bevelled surface |06 of the ring pin, pivots upwardly as hereinabove described and extends over the notch |06 of the ring pin. As the breech block B4 and ring pin |03 are started forwardly by the forces of the compressed action spring 95 and main spring |01, the sear hook |41 snaps into the notch |06 of the firing pin |03 and holds it in its rearward or cocked position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. '7. As the breech 'block continues under the force of the action spring 95, the forward end of the breech block engages and rides over the camsurfaces |43 and V|44 of the carrier forcing the unlatched carrier downwardly. Simultaneously, the face of the lbreech boltengages the end of the cartridge A and pushes it forwardly in the lingers 0f the carrier so that the nose of the bullet enters the barrel chamber'. VAs the breech bolt continues to chamber closing position, the resilient fingers of the Acarrier are stripped on? of the cartridge as the latter is advanced and chambered in the barrel. Throughout the rearward and forward movements of the breech block, the cartridge stop |23 has positively held the cartridge B at the end of the magazine 24. However, as soon as the action is closed, the stop |23 is released and permits the cartridge B to automatically feed into the resilient fingers of the carrier. The protuberance |59 of the sear disconnector has again been disengaged Yby the breech block and is pivoted upwardly by the force of the compressed main spring |01 to reengage its heel |63 with the trigger nger |127. `The gun is now in cocked position and ready to be red.

If the safety finger is in itsrforward position, as shown in YFig. '1, the trigger is free and may be pulled rearwardly whereupon the nger |12 moves forwardly forcing the Sear disconnector |56 forwardly in a substantially longitudinal direction to the advanced position, indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. '1. The forward draft of the disconnector causes the sear to pivot counterclockwise, and henceto disengage the sear hookl |41 from the notch |06 of the ring pin which the event the trigger is held back after being pulled, the bevelled surface i12' of its finger |12 is held against the bevelled surface |63 of the disconnector in the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 7. Then as the breech block moves rearwardly and engages the protuberance 159 of the disconnector, its bevelled surface |63' is moved downwardly out of engagement with the trigger finger, as shown in Fig. 6, the respective bevelled surfaces 163 and |12 having slopes to permit the bevel |63 to slide freely lby the bevel |12. The trigger linger E72 is thus opposite the notch |630 of the disconnector and hence incapable of actuating the sear.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic firearm comprising a receiver, a breech block reciprocably mounted in said receiver; a firing pin slidably mounted in said breech block; resilient means for actuating said ring pin; re control mechanism for cocking and releasing said firing pin comprising a sear pivotally supported in said receiver; a connector pivoted to said sear, said connector ,being engaged by said resilient means and provided with a finger portion; and a trigger pivoted in said receiver having a finger portion arranged normally to engage the finger portion of said connector, said sear being held in a normal position in cooking engagement with said firing pin by the force of said resilient means acting on said connector.

2. In an automatic firearm comprising a receiver, a breech block reciprocably mounted in said receiver; a ring pin slidably mounted in said breech block; resilient means for actuating said firing pin; re control mechanism for cocking and releasing said firing pin comprising a Sear pivotally supported in said receiver; a connector pivoted to said Sear, said connector being engaged by said resilient means and provided with a finger portion; and a trigger pivoted in said receiver having a nger portion arranged normally to engage the nger portion of said connector, said finger portions of said connector and trigger being held normally in engagement by the force of said resilient means acting on said connector which force is adapted also to resiliently hold the sear in a normal position in cooking engagement with said firing pin.

3. In an automatic rearm, a receiver, a breech block reciprocably mounted in said receiver; a firing pin slidably mounted in said breech block; a coil spring carried by said breech block for actuating said firing pin, said coil spring having a pilot provided with a recessed head; fire control mechanism for cocking and releasing said firing pin comprising a sear pivotally supported on the rear wall of said receiver, said sear having a hook arranged normally to engage and cock said ring pin; a connector pivotally supported on said sear, said connector being provided with a boss seated in the recessed head of said pilot and having a forwardly extending reach provided with a foot portion; guide means secured to the wall of said trigger plate to guide said reach; and a resiliently mounted trigger pivotally supported in said trigger plate, said trigger having a linger portion arranged normally to contact the foot portion of said connector and to move said connector forwardly when said trigger is pulled to move said sear and release said firing pin.

4. In an automatic rearm comprising a receiver; a breech block mounted in said receiver and reciprocable from chamber open to chamber closing positions therein; a firing pin resiliently mounted in said breech block; re control mechanism for cooking and releasing said ring pin comprising a sear pivotally mounted in said re ceiver; a trigger pivotally mounted in said receiver; a connector pivotally supported on the sear, said connector having a forwardly extend ing reach provided with a nger arranged to engage said trigger and a protuberance, said protuberance being arranged to be engaged by said. breech block for all positions of said block rear-l wardly of its chamber closing position to posi tively hold said trigger engaging finger out of' engagement with said trigger;

finge-r of said connector in engagement with saidf. trigger.

5. In an automatic firearm, a receiver; a breech block reciprocable in said receiver; a firing pin carried by said breech block; re control meansl comprising a pivoted sear and Sear connector forl holding said firing pin in cocked position in said breech block and for releasing said firing pin;

fastening means carried by said pivoted sear to pivot said connector thereto; and a spring in said breech block adapted to engage said firing pin to urge said firing pin forwardly in said breech block, said spring being arranged to cooperatively engage said connector to enable said sear to hold said firing pin in cocked position in said breech block.

CHARLES H. BARNES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS and resilient; means for normally biasing the trigger engaging' Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,425,412. August 12, 1947.

CHARLES H. BARNES It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specication of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 2, line 33, for the patent number 1,038,384 read 1,083,384; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of October, A. D. 1947.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction l Patent No. 2,425,412. August 12, 1947.

CHARLES H. BARNES It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 2, line 33, for the patent number 1,038,384- read 1,083,384; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the cese in the Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of October, A. D. 1947.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patente. 

